Boiler



June 24, 1930' R. w. BlcHFlELD i l,767,235

BOILER i 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1924.-

June 24, 1930. R. w. BlRcHFlELD l,767,235

Filed Oct. 29, 1924 5 Sheets-Slheet 2 June 24, 1930.

R. w. BlRcHFlELD BOILER Filed oct. 29. 1924 3 Shee's-Shee't 5 Patented June 24, 1930 .UNITED sTAT-Es PATENT interes OFFICE ROBERT W. BIRCI'IFIELD, OF JOLIE'I', ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB, TO HEGGIE SIMPLEXBOILER COMPANY, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BOILEB Application filed October 29,, 1924. Serial No. 748,548.

My invention relates to improvements in boilers of the kind particularly adapted for heating purposes, either hot water or steam.

The object of my invention is to provide a form of boiler which is particularly adapted to have the various sheets of which it is composed joined together at their edges by welding instead of rivets.

A further object of my invention is to 'provide a very simple self contained semi- -poi'table form of boiler which has Within its shell a substantially water jacketed smoke box through which the gases of combustion pass from the fire box to the return flues.

Another special object of my invention is to develop a relatively small boiler which can be made up of sheets of relatively small dimensions Vwhereby the waste from larger sized boilers can be advantageously used. In connection with this latter feature the connecting of the sheets by welding instead of the old method of riveting is of prime importance as smaller scrap pieces can be made use of on account of the elimination of the overlapping joints necessary when they are joined by rivets.

In this present improved form of boiler, I provide an enclosed combustion space With a substantially cylindrical body portion above same and forming the top of the combustion space, withinthe main body part of the boiler I provide a closed space at the front end from which tubes lead through the main body part to the rear end where I provide a smoke box for connection to a stack. n i

In one form of my improved boiler the main body part is adapted to be extended to' the rear to any desired extent to provide a greater length of gas travel from the grate to thestack for the purpose of economy in the extraction of heat from the combustion gases.

Another feature of importance resides in the adaptability of my improved boiler to the provision of water tubes passing through the upper part of the combustion space and which water tubes provide a convenient support for arch or roof fire bricks for controlling the flow of the gases from the fire to ues.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which Figure 1, is a Vertical, longitudinal, central sectional view of a boiler embo'dying my invention in one form;

F igure 2, is a Vertical transverse, sectional view one half taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and the other half taken on the line 2-2 of Fig: 1; l

Figure 3, -is a fragment-ery view similar to Figure 1, showing another form of my improved boiler;

Figure 4., is a fragmentary, sectional view similar to F ig. 2, and taken one half onV the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and the other half on the line 4=-4 of Figure 8;

Figure 5, is'a horizontal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Figures 6, and 7, are fragmentary horizontal- Sections on the lines 6-6 and 7- 7 respectively of F ig. 1.

As illustrated in Figs. :1 and 2 my improved boiler comprises a unitary structure composed of preformed metal sheets joined together at their edges by welding and formed and arranged to provide a combustion or fire space 10 surrounded on all four sldes by water legs 11 at front, 12 at the lateral sides and '13 at the back. Above the combustion space 10 is arranged the main body 14 of the boiler.

The upper part or steam space 15 of the main part of the boiler extends the full length of the boiler. In the lower portion of themain part of the boiler I arrange fiues 16 extending forwardly from the rear end of the boiler to a front head 17 which is set The boiler is built up or made' of an outer wrapper 21 which forms the upper half of the main part 14 of the boiler and the outer walls 22 of the side water legs 12 being bent or formed into U-shape for this purpose. Preferably the lower ends of the outer sheet 21 are flanged inwardl to close the lower ends of the side water egs 12 as shown at 23. At the ends of the boiler is a front end plate 24 extending from the bottom up to the auxiliary combustion space 18 and a rear end plate 24'. These end plates are preferably formed to fit within the ends of the preformed plate 21 and are welded thereto as shown at 25. These plates like the outer plate 21 are preferably flanged inwardly at their lower ends to close the lower ends of the front and rear water legs as shown at 26 and 27 respectively.

To form the inner shell or skin of the boiler I provide an inner U-shaped member 28 having Vertical side parts 29 which form the inner walls of the side water legs 12 and the top 30 of which forms the crown Sheet of the combustion chamber 10.

The crown sheet 30 preferably ends at its forward end in line with the front flue head 17 on the vertical dotted line 31 and the forward parts of the side walls of the main combustion chamber are preferably formed in the manner hereinafter more fully explained. The crown sheet 30 together with the upper part of the outer sheet 21 completes the circumference of the main part of the boiler.

The main combustion chamber' is. completed by a front plate 32 and a rear plate 33. The rear plate 33 fits within the rear end of the preformed inner sheet 28 and is welded at its top and side edges thereto as shown at 34 and at its bottom ed e it is welded to the inner edge of the ottom flange 27 as shown at 35.

The front end plate 24 is provided with a' fire door openin 36 and above its upper end the front end o the boiler is provided with a larger opening 37 giving access to the auxiliary combustion chamber 18 and to the forward ends of the flues 16. At the lower part of the opening 37 the metal of the front plate 24 is flanged inwardl as shown at 38 to close the top end of the ront water leg 11. The front plate 32 of the combustion chamber 10 which forms the inner wall of the front water by le is welded at its top edge to the inner e ge of the flange 38 as shown at 391 At its lower end this front plate 32 is welded to the inner edge of the bottom flange'-26 as shown at 40 and at is side edges 1t is welded to the front edges of the sidesi`29 of the inner wrapper 28 as shown at '41. ;This inner end 32 is provided with a door opening 42 registering with the opening-36 in the outer end plate and the door opening is completed by welding a sheet metal rlng 43 between the inner and outer heads as shown at 44.

To complete the auxiliary combustion chamber 18 the forward flue head is welded at its lower edge to the front end of the crown Sheet 30 as shown at 45 and the side portions 46 of this Sheet are bent forwardly as shown in Figure 6 to form the sides of the auxiliary combustion Chamber and the extreme edge portions are flanged out to meet the forward end of the outer shell at tle sides of the opening 37 as shown at 4 The forward end of the upper part 15 of the main part of the boiler 1s closed by a plate 48 which is formed at its upper edge to fit within the forward end of the outer shell 21 to which it is welded as shown at 47. The lower part 50 of this plate is bent back at a ri ht angle to form the top wall of the auxiiiar combustion chamber 18 and at its rear efi ge it is welded to the top edge of the front flue head 17 as shown at 51. Along the side edges of the bent 'back part 50 it is welded to the tops of the forwardly bent parts 46 of the front flue head 17.

The side edge portions 52 of the front w inner head late 32 are bent rearwardly to connect witi the front edges of the side sheets 29 of the inner shell, and to which they are butt welded as shown at 53. The lower edges of the forwardly bent portions 46 of the forward flue sheet 17 are connected to the top edges of the bent back side edge portions 52 of the front inner sheet 32 as shown at 54 thus completing the inner shell of the boiler. y

It is to be ohserved that the only relatively large sheets are the outer and innerxwrappers, 21 and 28 and the rear outer head 25, and that all of the remaining parts are relatively small parts, particularly in a small house heatin boiler and can be made out of the waste om the manufacture of lal` er boilers.-

provide a material addition to the heat absorbing surface of the combustion chamber 10 by providing a row of water 'circulating tubes 55 which extend from the front inner head 32 to the rear inner head 33 in the upper portion of the main combustion chamber 10. These water circulating fiues may serve to support a firebrick arch or roof 56 for the combustion chamber 10 and arranged. as indicated in` dotted lines to add to them a rearward extension 57 of the main portion 14 of the boiler. This extension is cylindrical and instead of the rear outer head extending to the top of the boiler it is Cut off at the lower part of the main part 14 of the boiler and the forward end of the extension is joined to the upper edge of the shortened rear head as shown at 58 and to the rear end of the upper part of the outer shell 21 as shown at 59. This extension is closed at its rear end by a rear head 60 set in from the extreme end thereof to provide a smoke Chamber 61. The smoke box is completed by an end plate 62. having a nozzle 63 for connection to a suitable stack.

The boiler flues 16 extend clear through the main part of the boiler from the front head 17 to the rear head 60. By means of this extension, which is very simple in character being cylindrical in Shape I Can make the fiues any desired length to suit the particular conditions under which the boiler* is to be used.

In this form I have shown the Crown sheet 64 as Curved downwardly instead of upwardly as in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thus indicating that in roducing my improved boiler I may use elther form of Crown Sheet.

` As many modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art I do not limit or Confine my invention to the specific' details of Construction herein shown and described.

I claim 1. In a self Contained boiler, a main combustion Chamber in the lower part, an auxiliary combustion Chamber at the front end and above the main combustion Chamber, an outer U-shaped Shell, an inner shell formed to provide a Crown sheet extending forward from the rear wall of the boiler to the rear end of the auxiliary combustion Chamber and to provide water walls at the sides -and at the front and back of the main combustion chamber and at the sides of the auxiliary combustion Chamber, a baflle wall below the Crown sheet and in spaced relation thereto and extending from the front wall of the main combustion Chamber to a point spaced for- Ward from the rear wall of the main Combustion Chamber, whereby the gases of combastion are directed forwardly from the rear end of the main combustion Chamber beneath the Crown Sheet and into the auxiliary Com- 'bustion Chamber, and flues extending from the' auxiliary combustion Chamber through the upper part of the boiler to the rear end thereof.

2. In a boiler construction having an auxiliary`combustion space at its front end Connectmg at its lower end with a main combustion space and giving access to fire flues in the main part of the boiler, the front fiue sheet forming the rear wall of said auxiliary combustion space, the side edge portions of said Sheet extending forwardly to form the side walls of said auxiliary combustion space and the extreme edge portions of the sheet bent to extend outwardly, and parallel with the middle portion of the sheet to form part of the front head of the boiler. v

3. In a boiler construction of the kind dcscribed 'having a main part of the boiler above a main combustion Chamber, an auxiliary combustion Chamber at the front end of the boiler connected at its lower end with thev main combustion Chamber, flues leading longitudinally through the main part of the boiler from the auxiliary combustion Chamber, the sides of the auxiliary and comi bustion Chambers being protected by water spaCes in free Communication with thelmain part of the boiler, and the top wall of the auxiliary combustion Chamber and 'the upper l part of the front head of the boiler being made from a single piece of sheet metal.

4. In a boiler of the kind described, an outer U-shaped wrapper sheet, an inner Wrapper sheet shorter than the outer Sheet, and an inner front head sheet having its side edge portions extendingy` rearwardly and joined to the forward ed es of the inner vrtpper sheet as and for t e purpose speci- 5. In a boiler of the kind described, an outer U-shaped Wrapper sheet, an` inner Wrapper sheet shorter than the outer sheet,

an inner front head Sheet having its side edge portions extending 'rearwardly and joined to the forward edges of the inner wrapper sheet, an auxihary combustion Chamber above said turned-back parts of the front head sheet, `;and the sides of said auxiliary combustion space being,,com osed ofl side edge portions of the forward ue Sheet turned forwardly and joined at their lower edges to the upper edges' of said turned back portionsof the front inner head as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a self Contained boiler, a main' Combustion Chamber in the lower part, the main combustion Chamber provided with a fuel feed opening at the front end of the boiler, an auxiliary combustion Chamber at the "front end and above the main combustion Chamber, an outer U-shaped shell, an inner shell formed to provide a Crown sheet extending forward from the rear wall of the boiler to the rear end of the auxiliary Combustion) Chamber and to provide water walls at the sides and at the front and back of the main combustion Chamber and at the sides of the auxiliary combustion Chamber, a baflie wall below the Crown sheet and in spaced reend of the main combustion Chamber beneath the Crown Sheet and into the auxiliary Combustion Chamber, and flues extendin from the auxiliary combustion Chamber t rough p the upper part of the boiler to the rear end thereof, whereby the gaSeS of Combustion are directed forwardly from the rear end of the main combustion Chamber.

7 In a Self-contained' boiler, a main combustion Chamber in the lower part, the main Combustion Chamber provided with a fuel feed openingatv the front end of the boiler, an auxiliary `Combustion vChamber at the front end'and above the main Combustion Chamber, an outer U-Shaped Shell, an inner Shell formed to provide a Crown Sheet extending forward from the rear wall of the boiler to the rear end of the auxiliary combustion Chamber and to provide water walls at the sides and at the front and back of the main combustion Chamber and at the sides of the auxiliary Combustion Chamber, a baiile wall below the Crown Sheet and in spaced relation thereto and extending from the front wall of the main combustion Chamber to a point Spaced forward from the rear wall of the main Combustion Chamber, Said bafiie wall ConSiSting of a plurality of water tubeS extending longitndinally'of' the main combustion Chamber from the front wall to the rear wall and arranged in a Substantially horizontal plane, the forward portion of the tubes being Covered by and Supporting refractory members, whereby the ases of combustion are directed forwardly rom the rear end of the main Combustion chamber beneath the Crown Sheet and into the auxiliary Combution Chamber, and flues extending from the auxiliary combustion Chamber through the upper part of the boiler to the rear end thereof.

8. In a boiler Construction` having. an auxiliary Combustion space at one end connected at its bottom with a main combustion space and givingaccess to fire flues in the main part of the boiler, a Sheet forming a fiu'e Sheet for said flues and the inner wall of Said auxiliary coxnbnstion Space and extending outwardly therefrom to form the Side Walls of said auxiliary Combustion Space, and the extreme edge portions of the Sheet joined to the outer Shell of the boiler.

9. In a boiler of the kind described, an outer U-shaped wrapper Sheet, an inner U-shaped Sheet and Shorter than the outer Sheet, an inner head Sheet having its Side edge portions turned inwardly and joined to the adjacent edges of the inner U-shaped Sheet as and for the purpose Specified.

10. In a boiler of the kind deSCribed, an

outer U-shaped .wrapper' Sheet, an inner U-Shaped Sheet shorter than the outer Sheet, an inner headhaving `its side edge portions extending inwardly and joined to the adjacent edges of the inner U-Shaped Sheet, an auxiliary Combustion Space above. said turned inwardly 'edge portions, the inner wall of Said auxiliary combustion s ace forming a flue Sheet and the edge portlons of said flue Sheet extending outwardly and joined to the upper edges of the inwardly turned edges of the inner front head to form the sides of said auxiliar combustion space.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 10th day of October,` 1924.

ROBERT W. BIRCHFIELD. 

